Genetic and Phenotypic Association between Yield Components in Hybrid Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) populations

Summary The magnitude of genetic expression and associations among traits are important for the prediction of response to selection in diverse environments and provide the basis for planning and evaluating breeding programs. In this regard, a cross classification mating design was used to produce hybrid sorghum populations, which were evaluated in a randomized completed block design with three replications at four environments in Northern Cameroon. Data on grain yield, days to anthesis, plant height, inflorescence length, threshing percentage and seed mass were collected and subjected to statistical genetic analyses. Significant genotype × environment interaction effects were observed for all traits. Genetic variance was essentially attributed to additive gene effects, with dominance variance for grain yield being negligible. However, the reverse was observed for threshability. Genetic variance components were much higher for plant height and grain yield than for days to anthesis, seed mass and threshability. Heritability estimates for plant height and inflorescence length were high (77 and 54 percent respectively) while the estimates for grain yield and threshability were low (14 and 5 percent respectively). Grain yield had positive genotypic correlation with most of the traits. Days to anthesis were negatively correlated with vegetative and reproductive traits. These results suggest that improvement of days to anthesis, plant height, and inflorescence length should be faster because of higher heritabilities and greater phenotypic variation. However, selection for earliness and reduced plant height would not be possible without hampering grain yield. Selecting for yield primary components namely inflorescence length and seed weight would be effective for increasing production. In addition, optimizing agronomic practices and improved experimental design would increase the selection efficiencies.     

河南夏大豆区近30年主要大豆品种产量改良的遗传进展

提高产量是大豆育种的主要目标。研究大豆产量及其相关性状的遗传进展,对于今后制定高产育种策略有重要参考意义。本研究随机选择近30年河南主要育成品种中的18个大豆品种,进行两年产量评价试验的研究。结果表明,产量随育种年份增加总体呈递增趋势,遗传进展为17.39kghm^-2,年递增率是0.7%;有效分枝、主茎节数、百粒重、株高有弱的正向遗传进展,而单株荚数和每荚粒数表现弱的负向遗传进展,但均不显著。百粒重、主茎节数和株高与产量有显著的遗传相关与表型相关,环境相关均不显著,表明这3个性状具有较大的遗传力,随产量性状的遗传改良,这3个性状均协同提高,且不易受环境条件的影响;而有效分枝、单株荚数、每荚粒数与产量的遗传相关和表型相关均没达到显著水平,这是它们与百粒重、主茎节数、株高有极显著负遗传相关所致。     

大豆生物量与产量组分间的相关及关联分析

生物量与后期的籽粒产量存在紧密联系,是决定作物经济产量的主要因素之一。本研究利用自然群体中的1142 SNP在2年环境下通过全基因组关联分析检测大豆基因组中与生物量及产量组分显著关联的SNP。结果表明:(1)生物量、百粒重和单株籽粒产量在自然群体中存在广泛的表型及遗传变异,并存在极显著的正相关,其中生物量与单株籽粒产量之间的相关略高于与百粒重;(2)两年环境下共检测到41、56和29个SNP分别与生物量、百粒重和单株籽粒产量显著关联,其中仅有6、19和1个SNP在2个环境中都被检测到;(3)共检测到15个SNP同时控制2个或2个以上性状,其中位于第19染色体上的BARC-029051-06057位点被检测到同时与生物量、百粒重和单株籽粒产量3个性状显著关联,表明有共同的遗传基础,同时也解释了性状间相关的遗传原因;(4)鉴定到的多个SNP与先前我们对叶绿素荧光参数及多个环境下产量相关性状的定位结果共位。这些显著关联SNP位点的鉴定,有助于理解生物量及产量相关性状的遗传机制,从而促进利用分子标记辅助选择聚合有利基因,实现未来大豆高产育种计划。     

苦荞粒形相关性状的遗传分析

利用籽粒大小差异较大的2个苦荞品种的杂交后代开展了与产量具有密切关系的粒形相关性状的遗传规律及其性状间的相关性分析。结果表明,F₂和F₃群体的粒长、粒宽、长宽比和千粒重表现值范围都超过亲本的表现值,并且粒长、粒宽和长宽比的变异系数均小于10%,千粒重的变异系数大于10%。另外,粒长、粒宽、长宽比和千粒重的加性方差均大于显性方差,广义遗传率在F₂和F₃代中分别为0.77~0.82和0.82~0.85,固定遗传率都达到0.80以上。粒形性状间的相关性分析结果表明,粒长、粒宽和千粒重相互间都存在极显著的正相关,粒宽和千粒重,粒长和长宽比的遗传相关系数较大。以上结果表明,具有较高遗传率的粒形相关性状可以在后代早期进行选择,但由于这些性状是数量性状而且受多个基因的控制,因此建议继续繁殖后代到基因型稳定,同时考虑性状间的相关性选拔最为有效。     

Agronomic performance and genotypic diversity for morphological traits among cassava genotypes in the guinea savannah ecology of Ghana

We evaluated the agronomic performance and diversity for morphological traits among a collection of local and exotic cassava genotypes in the Guinea Savannah agroecology of Ghana. One hundred and fifty cassava genotypes were assessed using 28 agro-morphological (18 qualitative and 10 quantitative) traits recorded from three months after planting until harvesting at 12 months after planting. There was significant genetic variability among the genotypes for most of the traits evaluated. High broad sense heritability was observed for most of the traits. Principal component analyses of the traits indicated that the first three principal component axes which accounted for more than 55% of the variation for 10 quantitative traits included storage root yield, number of leaves, harvest index, height at first branching, and plant height as the most important traits. A greater proportion of the phenotypic variances of plant height, height at branching, and harvest index were accounted for by genetic variances indicating that progress could made with selection. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that a number of traits were related to growth and yield of cassava in the Guinea Savanna ecology, making indirect selection for root yield possible. The study revealed ample genotypic variation in these morphological and agronomic traits to support selection for improved varieties.     

Genetic dissection of the relationship between plant architecture and yield component traits in soybean (Glycine max) by association analysis across multiple environments

Plant architecture and yield components are critical for the determination of seed yield in soybean. In this study, we performed genetic association analysis to dissect the relationships between plant architecture and yield component traits. Two hundred and nineteen accessions were employed, and eight agronomic traits were evaluated in six environments. Our results revealed strong positive correlations of plant architecture traits with yield components and the significant association of 4 SNPs with plant architecture traits and of 7 SNPs with yield component traits in two or more environments. Eight SNPs were co‐associated with two traits. Based on the phenotypic effects of the alleles of the detected SNPs, the best alleles were mined for twenty‐three distinct SNPs. Fifteen typical carrier materials harbouring the best allele effects were also mined. Twenty parental combinations were proposed by pyramiding possible alleles per SNP in one individual (excluding possible epistatic effects). These proposed combinations with the best alleles and carrier materials will aid in the improvement of targeted traits and marker‐assisted selection (MAS) efficiency in soybean breeding.     

Evaluation of genetic variances, heritabilities, and correlations for yield and fiber traits among cotton F2 hybrid populations

Summary F₂ hybrid cultivars continue to occupy a small portion of the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production are in the United States, but occupy a larger proportion of the production area in some other countries. Sixty-four F₂ hybrids resulting from crosses of four commercial cultivars and 16 pest-resistant germplasm lines were evaluated for five fiber and four yield traits in four environments at Mississippi State, MS. An additive-dominance genetic model was employed for these traits. The minimum norm quadratic unbiased estimation (MINQUE) method was used with a mixed model approach for estimating genetic variance and covariance components and for predicting genetic correlations. This study investigated genetic variances, heritabilities, and genetic and phenotypic correlations between agronomic and fiber traits among these 64 F₂ hybrid populations and discussed the usefulness of these populations for use as hybrids or for selections for pure lines.Dominance variance accounted for the major proportion of the phenotypic variances for lint yield, lint percentage, and boll size indicating that hybrids should have an advantage for these traits compared to pure lines. A low proportion of additive variance for fiber traits and the significant additive x environment variance components indicated a lack of substantial useful additive genetic variability for fiber traits. This suggests that selections for pure lines within these F₂ populations would have limited success in improving fiber traits. Genetic and phenotypic correlation coefficients were of comparable magnitude for most pairs of characters. Fiber strength showed a positive additive genetic correlation with boll weight. Dominance genetic correlations of fiber strength with elongation and 2.5% span length were also significant and positive; however, the additive genetic correlation of length and strength was zero.Contribution of the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Mississippi Agric. and Forestry Exp. Stn.     

Heritability, variance components and correlation of morphological and phenological traits in hazelnut

Most traits of interest in hazelnut are quantitative, yet there is little information available on heritability, variance components, or correlations. In this study, 13 morphological and four phenological traits were observed for 3 years on 41 parental genotypes, and for 2 years on seed‐lings representing 35 progenies. Narrow‐sense heritability estimates obtained by regression of offspring means on midparent values were all high, ranging from 0.56 for amount of kernel fibre to 0.89 for nut depth. Data on the parent genotypes was used to analyse variance components and showed that genotypic variance accounted for most of the phenotypic variance for all traits, and there was very little variation among trees within genotypes. Genotype‐year interaction accounted for only a very small part of the phenotypic variance for most traits, and changes in genotype rank were few and minor. Thus, selection based on genotype means is appropriate. The largest genotype‐year interaction components were observed for time of nut maturity, time of stigma exsertion, time of catkin elongation, number of nuts per cluster and amount of kernel fibre. For these five traits, evaluation over a period of years is advised. Correlation coefficients were large and positive for four nut size traits, indicating some redundancy in these measurements. Three of the phenological traits (time of stigma exsertion, time of catkin elongation, and time of leaf budbreak) were also highly and positively correlated. A large genetic correlation (0.44 < r < 0.73) was noted between good blanching and early phenology (catkin elongation, stigma exsertion and leaf budbreak), although plots of individual seedling values showed a large degree of scattering. Genetic correlations also indicated that seedlings with small nuts also tend to have compressed nuts, short husks and catkins that elongate later, but plots of individual seedling values showed large scattering. Correlations among the six traits directly related to the objectives of the Oregon State University hazelnut breeding programme (kernel weight, per cent kernel, nut shape index, blanching ability, relative husk length and nut maturity) were very low, indicating that they can be handled as independent traits.     

Genetic diversity for agronomic and fiber traits in day-neutral accessions derived from primitive cotton germplasm

Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL) is an important crop that is cultivated in warm climates through-out the world. Agronomic performance and fiber quality must continually be improved if cotton is to maintain economic viability. Primitive ancestors of cotton contain diversity for trait improvement; however, many of these accessions have a short-day flowering response (photoperiodic) and are not readily useable in breeding programs. In this study, 114 day-neutral derived primitive germplasm lines were evaluated in field trials for two years. Agronomic and fiber trait data were collected and analyzed. Variance components, genotypic values, and genotypic correlations were calculated. Genotypic effects for all traits studied made significant contributions to the phenotypic variation indicating genetic diversity among these lines. The predicted genotypic values showed a wide range of variation for agronomic and fiber traits. Weak genotypic correlations were found between yield and 2.5% span length and fiber strength, two important fiber traits. Although these day-neutral derived accessions had lower lint percentage, they had improved fiber length, strength, micronaire, and comparable yields with two commercial cultivars. Thus, these day-neutral derived accessions are sources of genetic variation that when used in breeding programs offer the potential to improve important traits and expand genetic diversity.Contribution of the USDA-ARS in cooperation with the Mississippi Agric. and Forestry Exp. Stn. Mention of trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by USDA, ARS and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may also be suitable.     

Variance components and heritabilities of yield and agronomic traits among cowpea genotypes

The phenotypic expression and heritability of quantitative traits vary due to genotypic differences, environmental influences and genotype by environment interactions. The objective of this study was to determine variance components and heritabilities of seed yield and its components in cowpea. Field experiments were conducted at three locations, three planting dates using ten diverse cowpea genotypes during 2004/2005. The experiments were laid out in the randomized complete block design with three replications. Results indicated significant interactions (P ≤ 0.01) among genotypes, locations and planting dates. The genotypic variance contributed ≥50% of the total phenotypic variance for the numbers of days to 50% flowering, seeds per pod, productive branches per plant and seed yield. The heritabilities of the numbers of days to 50% flowering were estimated at 50%, pods per plant (23%), days to maturity (66%), productive branches per plant (53%), 100 seed weight (11%) and seed yield (55%). The presence of considerable degree of genotypic variance among tested genotypes under various environments suggests that success in cowpea breeding could possibly be achieved through direct phenotypic selection.     

二棱大麦品种（系）的综合评价

为更精准筛选和选育不同用途二棱大麦品种,对38份不同来源及用途的二棱大麦品种（系）的株高、穗长、千粒重、穗粒数、有效穗数、籽粒产量和不孕粒数等主要农艺性状及籽粒蛋白质含量进行综合评价。结果表明,参试二棱大麦品种（系）有效穗数、产量、穗长、不孕粒数及蛋白质含量变异丰富,株高、千粒重及穗粒数变异相对较小,二棱大麦育种的增产效应主要体现在穗长和有效穗数的适度增加。相关性分析表明,二棱大麦各性状间存在复杂的相关性,且多个性状均可影响产量,有效穗数与产量呈极显著正相关。供试二棱大麦品种（系）在遗传距离10水平上可聚为中秆大粒型和矮秆多穗型两类。主成分分析将38份二棱大麦品种（系）的主要农艺性状分为4个主成分,其累计贡献率达85.5807%;以前4个主成分得分值为指标进行主成分二维排序分析,分析38份二棱大麦品种（系）在特定因子性状上的差异,结果为创制优异种质及亲本选择提供依据。     

大豆产量和产量构成因子及倒伏性的QTL分析

随机选取中豆29×中豆32重组自交系群体中165个家系作为2年田间试验材料,分析大豆单株产量、产量构成因子及倒伏性等性状的相关性和遗传效应,并检测各性状QTL。结果表明,38个与产量、产量构成因子及倒伏性状等有关的QTL,主要集中在C2、F和I连锁群。表型相关分析结果与QTL定位结果一致。在F连锁群上,2年均检测到倒伏QTL qLD-15-1,解释的表型变异超过20%,与百粒重和分枝荚数QTL分别位于相同和相邻标记区间,表明产量相关性状与倒伏性存在一定的关联。在I连锁群上,每荚粒数QTL和二、三、四粒荚数QTL不仅于同一位置,解释的表型变异为32%~65%,并且2个年份均重复出现,每荚粒数和四粒荚数QTL与二、三粒荚数QTL的增效基因分别来自不同的亲本。这4个粒荚性状QTL的共位性与表型相关分析结果一致,证实每荚粒数和四粒荚数与二、三粒荚数分别由不同的机制调控,对于育种上探讨以改良大豆粒荚性状为途径提高大豆产量,提供了重要依据。     

籼稻粒形及产量性状的加性相关和显性相关分析

以８个粗短粒品种和５个细长粒品种进行不完全双列杂交，采用加显遗传模型，对早籼粒形及产量性状进行多种相关分析。结果表明农艺性状间的加性相关比显性相关更为重要，其中粒形性状间的遗传相关是以加性相关为主，仅粒宽与长宽比性状间同时存在着显著的显性相关。有效穗数与着粒密度、每穗粒数、穗重间具有较高的负向加性相关，与粒重则表现出明显的正向显性相关。着粒密度、每穗粒数、结实率、穗重、粒重以及单株产量性状间的相关     

Genetic Variability, Genotypic and Phenotypic Correlations and Path-Coefficient Analysis in Egyptian Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)

Fifty-six accessions of multi-cut Egyptian clover were compared at four experiments under different environmental conditions; i.e. location and season. Considerable variation existed for all the characters studied. The genetic variance exceeded the environmental variance for all the studied traits. Heritability was high for all characters studied. The expected genetic advance from selection of the superior 10.7% of the accessions as calculated from the combined data reached to 16.10, 17.50, 5.20, 20.60, 3.52 and 21.00 for mean plant height, seasonal fresh forage yield, mean dry matter percentage, seasonal dry forage yield, mean protein percentage, and seasonal protein yield, respectively. Both phenotypic and genotypic correlations among traits showed that mean plant height was positively correlated with each of seasonal fresh forage yield, seasonal dry forage yield, mean dry matter percentage and seasonal protein yield, but negatively correlated with mean protein percentage. Negative correlation were also found between mean protein percentage with seasonal fresh and dry forage yield.
Over all experiments, pat-coefficient analysis revealed that seasonal fresh forage yield had the highest positive direct effect on seasonal protein yield (0.841), followed by mean dry matter percentage (0.461). The mean protein percentage showed the minimum direct (0.172) and indirect influence on seasonal protein yield.     

Multiple‐line cross QTL mapping for grain yield and thousand kernel weight in triticale

Grain yield and its component trait thousand kernel weight are important traits in triticale breeding programmes. Here, we used a large mapping population of 647 doubled haploid lines derived from four families to dissect the genetic architecture underlying grain yield and thousand kernel weight by multiple‐line cross QTL mapping. We identified 3 QTL for grain yield and 13 for thousand kernel weight which cross‐validated explained 5.2% and 48.2% of the genotypic variance, respectively. Both traits showed a positive phenotypic correlation, and we found two QTL overlapping between them. Full two‐dimensional epistasis scans revealed epistatic QTL for both traits, suggesting that epistatic interactions contribute to their genetic architecture. Based on QTL identified in our results, we conclude that the potential for marker‐assisted selection is limited for grain yield but more promising for thousand kernel weight.     

Tagging quantitative trait loci associated with grain yield and root morphological traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.) under contrasting moisture regimes

Plant breeding for drought-prone habitats envisages a favorable combination of grain yield and drought resistance. Though several components enhancing drought resistance have been identified in rice,their association with grain yield, under low-moisture stress, has been established in very few instances. We attempt to study the associations between rice grain yield and root system parameters both at phenotypic and genotypic levels. The doubled haploid population of IR64/Azucena was evaluated for root related traits at peak vegetative stage and grain yield related traits under both low-moisture stress and non stress conditions. ‘Mean environment’ was computed for yield related traits. Correlation and QTL mapping was attempted to find out the associations. The correlation between maximum root length and grain yield was positive under stress and negative in non stress. Genotypes with thicker and deeper roots, manifested higher biomass and grain yield under stress. Only one QTL found to increase days to flowering in non stress was also found to influence root volume and dry weight negatively under stress. The study suggests that loci enhancing grain yield and related traits were not pleiotropic with loci for desirable root morphological traits studied under low-moisture stress at vegetative stage, in the genetic material used in the study. It is thus possible to combine higher grain yield and desirable root morphological traits, favorably, to enhance productivity of rice under low-moisture stress. In rainfed ecologies, where deep roots contribute to enhanced drought resistance in rice, the results indicate the possibility of combining drought resistance with higher levels of grain yield. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

云南籽粒苋种质资源的表型多样性分析

为了系统分析云南籽粒苋种质资源的表型遗传多样性。采用遗传多样性指数、主成分分析、相关分析和聚类分析对104份云南籽粒苋种质资源的30个表型性状进行研究。结果表明,遗传多样性指数最高的质量性状和数量性状分别是主花序形状(1.68)和主花序长度(2.07)。前10个主成分累计贡献率达到73.944%,单株鲜体重与第3、第6、第9主成分极显著正相关,单株粒重与第9主成分极显著正相关。聚类分析将104份种质划分为5类,第Ⅰ类群可为间套种亲本材料,第Ⅱ和Ⅲ类群可为大粒亲本材料,第Ⅳ类群可为优质饲用亲本材料,第Ⅴ类群可为观赏类亲本材料。云南籽粒苋种质资源表型性状具有丰富的遗传多样性,有较大的开发利用潜力。     

Relationships among economic characters in lentil

Summary There are several reports of the association among lentil characters based on a few, relatively similar lines grown in single environments. Their results have often been inconsistent because of inadequate sampling of genotypes and environments. This study examined associations between economic characters in lentil over a wide range of genetic material and environments in West Asia. The first part of the study concerned correlations within large samples from the world lentil collection grown in two seasons, and the second part covered a smaller sample of genetic material from the collection sown over a wider range of conditions.The results showed similar phenotypic correlations over two seasons, contrasting in rainfall, in the world lentil collection. Similar genetic and phenotypic correlations were also shown by the smaller sample of germplasm over 10 environments. These results indicated low importance of covariance due to environmental and genotype-environment interaction effects. Seed yield was positively correlated with straw yield, indicating selection for either character will increase the other trait. The correlation between seed protein content and seed yield was small and negative, while the correlation of protein with straw yield was positive in sign. This suggests that the current ICARDA goals of selection for high seed and straw yield will not have a major correlated effect on seed protein content. There was a strong positive correlation between seed size and cooking time (r=0.96), therefore seed size can be used to predict cooking time.     

Comparative yield component analysis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> parents using fibre quality grouping

The usual practice of estimating association and direct and indirect effects among various traits in Gossypium hirsutum is with ungrouped genetic material based on staple length and strength. During 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 genotypic and phenotypic association among ten characters were estimated in G. hirsutum genotypes: (i) set-1: 10 genotypes of low fibre strength (≤196.2 mN/tex) and medium staple length (≤25.0 mm), (ii) set-2: 10 genotypes of high fibre strength (≥235.44 mN/tex) and long staple length (≥28 mm) and (iii) set-3: 20 genotypes of set-1 and 2. The differences in the estimates of associations, direct and indirect effects for different characters in fibre quality groups were examined. The complete analysis of variance for the characters under study viz; days to 50% flowering, plant height (cm), number of monopodial and sympodial branches per plant, seed cotton yield per plant (g), boll weight (g), total number of bolls per plant, lint %, 2.5% span length (mm) and fibre strength (mN/tex) indicated highly significant genotypic differences for genotypes, years and genotype × years interaction. Variation within medium staple length and low strength (set-1), high staple length and high strength genotypes (set-2) and their interaction with year were also significant. Medium staple length and low strength (set-1) versus high staple length and high strength component (set-2) was significant for all the traits indicating significant variability between the sets. A true relationship and direct selection were observed for days to 50% flowering, number of monopodial and sympodial branches per plant with seed cotton yield in the three sets suggesting that separation of genetic material based on staple length and fibre strength for improvement of seed cotton yield through these traits is not required. Magnitude and direction of direct effect and association with yield of the other traits; plant height, number of total bolls per plant, boll weight, lint %, staple length and fibre strength differed between the sets. This study concluded that more successful planning of a breeding programme can be made through path coefficient analysis if the genetic material is grouped based on staple length and fibre strength. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Variability and Correlations in Grain Sorghum Genotypes (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) Under Drought Conditions at Different Stages of Growth

Twenty-two genotypes of grain sorghum were grown under drought conditions by omitting one irrigation during stages of before flowering period, kernel filling period, and physiological maturity period at Assiut Univ. Farm in 1987 and 1988 seasons. The results obtained revealed that considerable variation existed among genotypes for all the studied traits. The most effective moisture stress treatment in reducing grain yield, panicle weight and plant height was during flowering stage. While 1000-kernel weight was much affected by moisture stress during grain filling period. The genotype x year interaction (σ²_gy) was large compared to genotype x irrigation treatment (σ²_gl) indicated that genotypes responded differently when they were grown from year to year. The genotypic variance (σ²_g) for all traits were large reflecting the importance of genetic variability. Both phenotypic and genotypic correlations among traits showed that plant height and 1000-kernel weight were highly correlated with grain yield, while leaf area index was low associated with plant height.